Change-speed and reversing gear for automobiles.



No. 824,624. PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

J. H., R. M. & G. E. CHAMBERS. CHANGE SPEED AND REVBRSING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J JE/mlfawk/a iifiavzra Qarfidfl (w g m/W Nol 824,624. PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

R. M. & G. E. CHAMBERS.

J. H., CHANGE SPEED AND REVERSING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1905.

3 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

No.824,624. PATENTED JUNE26, 1906. J. H., R. M. & 0. E. CHAMBERS.

CHANGE SPEED AND REVERSING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 10. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TED STATES PATENT Brion.

CHAMBERS AND CHARLES EDWARD CHAMBERS, OF BELFAST. IRE- LAND.

CHANGE-SPEED AND REVERSING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1906.

Application filed May 10, 1905. Serial No. 259.825-

10 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, J OHN HENRY CHAM- BERS, residing at 31 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, England, and ROBERT MARTIN CHAM- BERs and CHARLES EDWARD CHAMBERS, residing at Cuba street, Belfast, Ireland, subj ects of'the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Change-Speed and Reversing Gear for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to change-s eed and reversing gear for automobiles, the 0 ject being to provide a compact and efiicient form of gear bywhicha driver can obtain a number of changes in speed and a reverse by depressing a pedal and then moving two light handles or pointers over an indicating-plate, the depression of the pedal disengaging the gear and the movement of the handles setting it for rengagement or release of the pedal, so that the'manipulation requires no special or complex training or skill on the part of the driver, and thereby l'essens liabihty to accident due to irregular manipulation in case of excitement or flurry.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying-drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an automobile with the gear applied thereto. Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, show the gear in side elevation and plan, artly in section. Fig. 4 is a detail of a clutc employed.

In carrying out the invention power from the crank-shaft h is transmitted to the changespeed gear by a sprocket-pinion s and a chain t, the latter continuously driving the wheel a on the change-speed gear. The changespeed gear comprises the s rocket-wheel u, having internal clutch-s aces into which expanding rings 12 and 'w are adapted to engage, the rings being carried by spur-wheels a: and y, respectively. The s rocket is a loose wheel. The spur-wheel a: is lieyed on a sleeve 2, which is loose on the axle a, and has a sunpinion 2 mounted on or formed in one with it. The spur-wheel y is freely mounted. It has two sets of teeth, one external set and one in ternal set. (See Fig. 3.) It also has an extension which is freely mounted on the differential box 3. The box 3 is freely mounted and carries on a pin or ins 4 one oranumber of planet-pinions 5, w ich engage with the internal teeth of the wheel y andwith the sunpinion 2. The box 3 also carries the planetpinion 6.0r pinions of the usual balance-gear com rising the pinion 6 and sun-pinions 7 7 on t e two parts of the axle 0,.

In the example illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the gear is designed for three speeds ahead, one reverse, and a neutral or free-wheel condition. The first or slowest s eed ahead is obtained b throwing in the c utch 'v and locking the w eel y, the second by throwing in the clutch w and locking the wheel at, the clutch Q) and wheel y being released, and the third by throwing in both clutches 'v and 'w and freeing both wheels :1: and y. The reverse is obtainedby throwing in clutch 0 and releasing both wheels :1: and y and at the same timethrowing in a train of pinions 20 21 22 between wheel 11: and the external teeth of wheel 'y, as hereinafter described. When both clutches are out the gear runs free. The clutch-rings 'v and w are of the form shown in Fig. 4that is, of approximately circular form with or without a central loop. A wedge 8 is introduced between the adjacent ortions of the two segments, and by means 0 a screw or bolt 9 the wedge may be set so as to adjust the rings initially and at any time afterward to allow for wear. The clutch-rings are expanded by means of eccentric-pins 10, against which the ends abut. The plns 10 are artially rotated by levers or arms 11, w 'ch have rollers 12 on their ends adapted to be engaged and thrust apart by sliding tapered or wedge-shaped collars 13. The collars 13 are 0 erated by pivoted forked levers 14, linke to bell-crank levers 15, which are jointed to rods or bars 16 17, adapted to be thrust rearward by a pedal to release the clutches and to be pulled forward by springs 18 19 to expand or throw in the clutches. The pedal 18 operates a lever 23, which abuts against the ends of the bars 16 17. The deression of the pedal, therefore, thrusts the ars rearward to release the clutches, while when the pedal is released the springs 18 19 ull the bars forward. To expand or throw in the clutches in the expanded or engaged condition and at the same time to lock either of the wheels :1: and y, according to the speed required, the following devices are em loyed: A pivoted quadrant 24 is provided with two sets of teeth, one set on one side (indicated by ICC rocked by a rod or chain 28, which is operated in turn by a hand-lever 29, conveniently arranged for the driver and adapted to be moved over an index indicating the necessary positions for the handle for the speed required. The rocking lever 27 is mounted on a shaft 30, carrying a pair of locking-pawls 31 32, which are brought into engagement with the wheels so and y when they are re uired to be locked, the oscillations of the cokingpawls being simultaneous with those of the quadrant 2 1. A second or reversing-handle 33 operates by a rod or chain. 34 another rocking lever 35, which oscillates cams 36 or small cranks working in slots 37 in pivoted plates 38, carrying the train of gears 20 21 22. By suitable manipulation of the reversing-handle 33 the plates 38 are oscillated to bring the train into gear with the wheels as and y when a reverse is required.

In order that the above-described gear may be understood, the operations required for changing speeds will be described. To obtain the first speed ahead, the pedal is depressed and the handle 29 is moved to the point on the index showing first speed. This rings the quadrant 24 to a position wherein the tooth I is in the recess 25 of the bar 17, while all other teeth are clear of the bar 16. At the same time the pawl 31 is brought into engagement with the wheel The pedal is then released, when the bar 16 will be pulled forward by its spring to apply the clutch i); but the bar 17 will be retained, so as to keep the clutch w out. The second speed is similarly obtained by-depressing the pedal and moving the handle 29 to bring the tooth II on the quadrant to hold back the bar 16, in which case the bar 17 is free to move under the action of its spring, and at the same time the pawl 32 is oscillated to lock the wheel ac, while the pawl 21 frees the wheel y. The third speed is obtained by depressing the pedal and manipulating the handle 29 to ring the quadrant to a position wherein both bars are free to move forward under the acti on of the springs, the bar 16 sliding through the space III and the bar 17 being quite clear of teeth. In this position of the quadrant both pawls 32 and 31 are disengaged from the wheels in and 'y. The reverse is obtained by depressing the pedal and moving the handle 29 to a position indicated on the index, wh ereby the quadrant 24. is oscillated to bring the tooth R in the recess 25 of the bar 17, the bar 16 being clear of teeth. At the same time the pawls are out of engagement; but the reversing-handle 33 is moved to bring the train 20 to 22 into gear with the wheels x y.

To enable the gear to run free, the pedal is depressed and the handle 29 is moved to a position suitably indicated on the index whereby the quadrant 24 brings the two teeth F F into posltions to retain both bars 16 17, whereby both clutches are out of engagement, the handle 33 being also moved to disengage the train of gear 20 to 22. (See Fig. 2.) I

It is obvious that the driver can pass to any gear he wishes without coming through the intermediate gears. It is also obvious that this method of gear changing is not confined to chain-driven cars, but can be applied equally well to thosedriven by propellershaft.

The whole gear, including the sprocketpinion s and chain 25 is inclosed in an oil-tight case d. The forward end 0 of the case is-a casting. It is split and has a tightening-bolt e for causing the split end 0 to clamp or release a bush f, which is internally threaded to receive the end proper, g, of the gear-case, this end being in two parts screwed or bolted together, so that it can be placed around the engine-crank shaft h or a secondary shaft parallel therewith. The bush f is always free to oscillate on the end 8 to permit the back axle to accommodate itself to inequalities of the road. The rear end of the case d is also made in two parts i k, bolted or screwed together, it being provided with glands for the drivingaxle.

Instead of a chain it is obvious that the drive may be effected by means of gearwheels.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A change-gear for automobiles comprising a freely-mounted driver, a single set of epicyclic gears consisting of a sun-pinion, planet-pinions and an annular wheel, the sunpinion and the annular wheel also being freely mounted, clutches for connecting them to the driver, means for locking them and means for operating said clutches and locking means, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbe'fore set forth.

2. A change-speed gear for automobiles comprising a freely-mounted driver, a set of epicyclic gears consisting of a freely-mounted sun pinion, planet pinions and a freelymounted annular wheel, a carrier for the planet pinions, a balance gear having a planet-pinion, said pinion being carried by the carrier, means for connecting the sunwheel and annular wheel to the driver and means for locking them, substantially as and pawls, substantia ly as hereinbefore described and set forth.

4. A change-speed gear for automobiles, comprising a freely-mounted driver, a set of epicyclic gears consisting of a freely-mounted sun-pinion and annular wheel and planetpinions, a carrier for said planet-pinions, a driven axle to which said carrier is operatively connected, two spur-wheels respectively rigid with the sun-pinion and the annular wheel, clutches for connecting said spur-wheels with the driver, pawls adapted to lock said wheels, a reversing-train adapted to operatively connect said spur-wheels, and means for operating said clutches, pawls and reversing-train, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth. a

5. A change-speed gear for automobiles, comprising a freely-mounted driver, a set of epicyclic gears consisting of afreely-mounted sun-pinion and annular wheel and planetpinions, a carrier for said planet-pinions, a driven axle to which said carrier is operatively connected, two spur-wheels respectively rigid with the sun-pinion and the annular wheel, clutches for connecting said spur-wheels with the driver, pawls adapted to lock said wheels means for o erating said clutches and pawls the means or o erating the clutches comprising levers and sliding collars, pivoted clutch-forks therefor, drawbars, links and levers connecting said forks to the draw-bars, a pedal for thrusting said bars in one direction to release the clutches and s rings for returning said bars to engage the c utches.

6. A change-speed gear for automobiles, comprising a freely-mounted driver a set of epicyclic gears, consisting of a freely-mounted sun-pinion and annular wheel and planetpinions, a carrier forrsaid planet-pinions, a driven axle to which said carrier is operatively connected, two spur-wheels respectively rigid with the sun-pinion and the annular wheel, clutches for connecting said spur-wheels with the driver, pawls adapted to lock said wheels means for o erating said clutches and pawls, the means or o erating the clutches comprisin levers, an sliding collars, ivoted clutchorks therefor, drawbars, lin s and levers connecting said forks to the draw-bars, a pedal for thrusting said bars in one direction to release the clutches, s rings for returning said bars to engage the c utches and means for 0 erating the pawls comprising the pawl-sha t, a rocking lever' and a draw-rod, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.

7. A change-s eed gear for automobiles comprising a free y-mounted driver, a set of epi cyclic gears consisting of a freely-mounted sun-pinion and annular wheel and planet-pinions, a carrier for the planet-pinions, adriven axle to which-the carrier is operatively connected, two spur-wheels respectively rigld with the sun-pinion, and the annular wheel, clutches for connecting said spur-wheels with the driver, pawls adapted to lock said wheels, means for o erating said clutches and pawls, the means or operating the clutches comprising levers and sliding collars, pivoted clutch-forks therefor, draw-bars links and levers connecting said forks to the draw-bars, a pedal for thrusting said bars in one direction to release the clutches, springs for returning said bars to engage the clutches and the means for operating the pawls comprising the pawl-shaft, a rocking lever and a drawrod and meansfor selecting and detaining the draw-bars of the clutch-operating mechanism against the action of their springs, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth. I

8. A change-speed gear for automobiles, comprising a freely-mounted driver, a set of epicyclic gears consisting of a freely-mounted sun-pinion, and annular wheel and planetpinions, a carrier for the planet-pinions, a driven axle with which the carrier is operatively connected, two spur-wheels respectively rigid with the sun-pinion and the annular .wheel, clutches for connecting said spur-wheels with the driver, pawls adapted to lock said wheels, means for operating said clutches and pawls, the means for o erating the clutches, comprising levers an sliding collars, pivoted clutch-forks therefor, drawbars, links and levers, connecting said forks to the draw-bars, a pedal forthrusting said bars in one direction to release the clutches, s rings for returning said bars to engage the c utches and means for operating the pawls comprising a pawl-shaft, a rocking lever and a draw-rod and means for selecting and detaining the draw-bars of the clutch-operating mechanism against the action of their springs comprisin a ivoted toothed quadrant linked to the coking-pawl rocking lever, and notches in the draw-bars, adapted to receive the'teeth on the quadrant, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth. 9. A chan e-gear for automobiles comprising a free y-mounted driver, a single set of epicyclic gears consistin of a suninion, planet-pinions and an ann ar wheel, t e sunpinion and the annular wheel also' being freely mounted, clutches for connecting them to the driver, means for locking them and means for operating said clutches and locking means, a case for inclosing the gear the forward end of which is split a clamping-bolt fitted on said end, a rotatable gland in said end, a casting screwed into said gland, the casting bein in halves to embrace the motor-shaft an driving sprocket-pinion thereon, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.

10. A chan e-s eed gear for automobiles, comprising a me y-mounted driver, a set of epicyclic gears consisting of a freely-mounted sun-pinion and annular wheel and planetpinion, a carrier for said planet-pinion, a driven axle with which the carrier is operatively connected, two spur-wheels respectively rigid with the sun-pinion and the annular wheel, clutches for connecting said s pur-wheels with the driver, pawls adapted to lock said wheels, a reversing-train ada ted to operatively connect said spur-whee s, pivoted plates carrying said train a crank for rocking said plates, and a draw-rod. therefor, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.

11. A change-s eed gear for automobiles, comprising a free y-mounted driver, a set of epicyclic gears consisting of a freely-mounted sun-pinion and annular Wheel and planetpinions, a carrier for said planet-pinions, a

driven axle with which the carrier is operatively connected, two spur-wheels, respectively ri id with the sun-pinion and the an nular w eel, clutches for connecting said spur-wheels with the driver, pawls adapted to lock said wheels, a reversing-train ada ted to operatively connect said spur-whee s, and means for operating said clutches, pawls and reversing-train, a pedal for controlling the clutch-operating means and two handles for controlling the means for operatin the locking-pawls, substantially as herein efore described and set forth.

In Witness whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN HENRY CHAMBERS. ROBERT MARTIN CHAMBERS. CHARLES EDWARD CHAMBERS.

Witnesses to the signature of the said John Henry Chambers:

ALBERT E. PARKER, BERTRAM J. HOLLAND.

Witnesses to the signatures of the said Robert Martin Chambers and Charles Edward Chambers:

RoBT. JAS. ROBB, A. M. PATTON. 

